Lead Materials Engineer

Role overview

Materials selection and specification

• Review and approve specifications and materials for stations, tunnels, viaducts, depots, trackwork, roads, utilities, and related facilities.
• Evaluate concrete, cement, aggregates, reinforcement, steel, asphalt, earthworks materials, waterproofing, grouts, coatings, sealants, geosynthetics, and other construction products.
• Assess substitutions and innovative or sustainable materials; advise teams on suitability, durability, availability, and lifecycle performance.

Quality control and testing

• Review contractor material submittals, quality plans, inspection and test plans, and testing procedures.
• Oversee laboratory and field testing and review mix designs, trial mixes, results, certificates, and laboratory reports.
• Verify laboratory capabilities, equipment, sampling procedures, and test methods; investigate material defects and nonconforming work.

Compliance, suppliers, and durability

• Ensure materials and construction processes meet project specifications, international standards, and applicable local regulations.
• Review new or revised standards and support technical submissions, regulatory reviews, client approvals, and responses to material-related comments.
• Assess suppliers, manufacturers, material sources, quarries, concrete and asphalt plants, precast facilities, and testing laboratories.
• Review durability needs related to heat, corrosion, chemical exposure, water ingress, thermal movement, fire performance, and service life.

Collaboration and reporting

• Participate in design reviews, construction meetings, inspections, audits, technical workshops, and defect investigations.
• Maintain material registers, approved-material lists, testing and supplier records, inspection reports, and nonconformance documentation.
• Prepare technical, evaluation, audit, investigation, and compliance reports; mentor junior staff and support closeout and handover records.

Required qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in construction-materials design, selection, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience on major civil, infrastructure, or heavy construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, testing methods, quality assurance, relevant standards, and material compliance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical evaluation skills; excellent written and verbal English.

Skills and knowledge

• Knowledge of concrete, earthworks, aggregates, asphalt, steel, precast materials, waterproofing, grouts, coatings, sealants, and geosynthetics.
• Familiarity with rail and metro materials, including track slabs, rail-support systems, vibration-isolation products, and electrical isolation requirements.
• Knowledge of laboratory practices, sampling, calibration, acceptance criteria, durability, sustainability, corrosion protection, and lifecycle costs.
• Microsoft Office and electronic document-control systems; knowledge of rail, metro, transit, or transportation systems is desired.